Former co-leaders and presidents of Te Pāti Māori have signed a letter saying they want to salvage the divided party and are not prepared to walk away, according to a letter obtained exclusively by 1News, as supporters cancel memberships.
It followed a meeting held in Northland over the weekend, allowing supporters to discuss the ousted Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
Kapa-Kingi was recently expelled from the party alongside Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris.
Te Pāti Māori’s leadership snubbed an invitation to meet with those in the north.
In a letter last week, Te Pāti Māori secretary Lance Norman said the party had been advised “by multiple rangatira of Te Tai Tokerau not to attend” the meeting.
He also cited “legal proceedings” adding the party received advice that “our attendance may be seen as interfering with that process” while also citing safety concerns.
Despite that, the party’s new Tāmaki Makaurau MP Oriini Kaipara attended the meeting in Kaikohe in a show of solidarity and, what some could argue to be, defiance.
MP speaks to media about the party’s tumultuous breakdown, saying those involved on both sides have been in the wrong. (Source: 1News)
Ferris told 1News Kaipara’s attendance was a “clear indication of her mana” and her support for Kapa-Kingi.
“I know [Kaipara] is under extreme pressure,” he said.
“I know for a fact that she’s up against the likes of the president and other Waipareira staff who are currently serving as her executive,” Ferris added.
The meeting at Kohewhata Marae was reportedly attended by more than 200 people.
The resolutions included a call for president John Tamihere to step down, declaring there was no desire for Kapa-Kingi to return to the party until then.
Speaking in Māori, former party president Dame Naida Glavish said Te Pāti Māori was not established to belittle people, but rather for the betterment of all Māori.
She said that had not been evident this year.
Dame Naida, Sir Pita Sharples, Te Ururoa Flavell, Marama Fox, Hone Harawira, and Tukoroirangi Morgan were among those represented on a list of former party leaders who had penned a letter to the current leadership.
Co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the decision was driven by what the party believed to be breaches of its constitution. (Source: 1News)
1News obtained a copy of the letter, which stated: “Over the last two months we have watched the party we all built self-destruct … A war of words that has hurt us as te ao Māori; damaged our credibility and tarnished our integrity.”
“We are asking you to meet with us as the previous party leadership,” the letter read.
“We are not prepared to walk away. We want to rebuild our party with you.”
Flavell told 1News that there was enough of the former Māori leadership to raise their concerns and that they wanted to see solutions.
“The legacy of Tāriana Tūria and of those at the beginnings of the party, Pita Sharples, are still strong amongst many of our communities,” he said. “And therefore, there’s almost an obligation for us to do something, which is why the letter was written.”
wi leaders have visited Parliament to push for a reconciliation amid party infighting. (Source: 1News)
While attempts by members of the Iwi Chairs Forum to broker a resolution fell flat, there was a warning today that failure to engage with the former leadership could be costly.
“I think that even in the circles that I’m moving in, that many people are very much questioning what’s happening with the party and questioning whether they stay with it or not,” he said.
“You’ve got almost a clash at times of arguing the constitution versus arguing law versus actually just people sitting down and talking,” Flavell said.
A copy of John Tamihere’s response obtained by 1News said, “thanks for this note” and added he’d spoken so several former leaders already.
“Contrary to losing membership, our current numbers are well in advance of where we were 12 months ago,” Tamihere said.
Tamihere was believed to have been travelling in Europe.
“I am travelling but will participate in a national executive hui shortly to discuss matters.”
Tamihere also pointed to the upcoming Te Pāti Māori AGM on December 7 in Rotorua.
“It’s highly likely that some of us will turn up to the AGM,” Flavell said.
“To see what’s going on and find out and hear what people have got to say. I think that’s important.”
Ferris welcomed the letter from the former leadership, saying it had been difficult to achieve an “open and transparent” conversation.
“Without external oversight, it’s very hard to see anyone going back into that arena and feeling safe or supported,” the MP said.
He indicated that his electorate executive also planned on inviting party leadership to meet with them, though Ferris didn’t hold out much hope they would attend.
“Just going on experience, it’s likely to be ignored, but that can’t be the way forward because that’s just a stalemate, and our people need progress quick.”
